Liverpool v Portsmouth preview

Finances put to one side as crisis clubs meet at Anfield

By Jamie Casey   Last updated: 15th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Liverpool v Portsmouth preview

Meeting: Grant and Benitez

PREDICTIONS

Skysports.com's prediction: Liverpool 2 Portsmouth 0

SKY BET Odds: Liverpool 1/4 Draw 9/2 Portsmouth 12/1

One to Watch: Glen Johnson

Liverpool to lose and Benitez to have left the club by midnight is 33/1. Click here to bet on Monday's match.

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Liverpool will expect to give their faltering top-four hopes a boost as they host basement club Portsmouth on Monday night.

A win would push the sixth-placed Reds up one spot ahead of Manchester City, who were held at Sunderland on Sunday, with Tottenham currently in control of the coveted fourth spot.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, have their work cut out if they are to escape relegation but will be buoyed by their 2-0 win over Rafa Benitez's men at Fratton Park earlier in the season.

Both sides head into the clash on the back of two defeats on the bounce but Pompey have yet to win at Anfield in the Premier League, going down 1-0 in last season's corresponding fixture.

Liverpool news

Midfielder Yossi Benayoun will face a late fitness test ahead of the game. The Israel international missed the Europa League defeat in Lille on Thursday after injuring an ankle in the loss to Wigan earlier last week.

Fellow midfielder Maxi Rodriguez returns to the domestic squad having been ineligible for European football. Defenders Martin Skrtel (broken foot) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) are still out injured.

Despite suffering back-to-back defeats, Benitez could name a similar team to the one which lost in France but may use the fixture to ease Alberto Aquilani back into the side.

Glen Johnson looks set to retain his position at right-back after returning from injury at the DW Stadium a week ago, with Daniel Agger set to partner Jamie Carragher at centre-half.

Portsmouth news

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant welcomes back defender Ricardo Rocha from a two-game ban for the long trip to Anfield.

Right-back Anthony Vanden Borre is back in training as he recovers from a hamstring injury while Aaron Mokoena, who was an unused substitute against Birmingham last Tuesday, is also available after a knee problem.

But Hassan Yebda and Kevin-Prince Boateng are away receiving treatment on knee and ankle injuries respectively, while John Utaka is doubtful with a sore groin.

Striker Tommy Smith is back in training after a lengthy absence through a groin problem, but the Anfield trip comes too soon for the former Watford player.

Possible starting XIs

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi Rodriguez, Torres.

Portsmouth: James, Finnan, Ben-Haim, Hreidarsson, Belhadj, Brown, Wilson, O'Hara, Webber, Piquionne, Dindane.

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